International Cooperation

A delegate from Chubu University (Japan) visited National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) on October 21, 2025, to strengthen bilateral exchange. The visit was led by Prof. Masashi Tsujimoto, former Vice President of Chubu University, with his student, Prof. Shih-Min Tien of National Taiwan University, assisting with Mandarin-Japanese translation. As Prof. Tsujimoto has a long-standing relationship with Prof. Kun-Chiang Chang, Chairman of NTNU’s Department of East Asia Studies, Prof. Chang arranged the meeting. Ms. You-Jhen Sie, Teaching Assistant, also participated, with Prof. Hsiu-Mei Hsieh, Associate Vice President for International Affairs, joining the discussion.

 

Chubu University, located in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, was founded in 1938 and renamed in 1974. Emphasizing practical learning, it offers programs in Engineering, Business Information, International Relations, Humanities, Applied Biology, Life and Health Sciences, and Education. The campus is well-equipped and actively promotes international exchange and industry-academia collaboration. Since March 2019, its Faculty of International Relations has had a faculty-level MOU with NTNU’s College of International and Social Sciences. Prof. Tsujimoto noted that this visit also explored opportunities for upgrading cooperation, including a university-level student exchange program.

 

Prof. Tsujimoto highlighted Chubu University’s location in Japan’s automotive and manufacturing hub. Graduates often enter manufacturing, IT, distribution, and public sectors, with many employed by Toyota, Honda, and Chubu Electric Power, and others in small- and medium-sized enterprises or tech startups. The university provides career guidance and internship programs. He hopes NTNU students will join exchange programs to experience its industry advantages and pursue further study.

 

Prof. Hsieh suggested starting with exchanges through the College of International and Social Sciences, then expanding to other colleges. Japan remains a popular exchange destination, where students can improve language skills, gain cultural understanding, and build international networks.

 

NTNU’s Mandarin Training Center (MTC) offers exchange students six hours of free Mandarin classes per week. Chubu University provides small, level-based Japanese language and culture courses for exchange students, including contemporary Japanese affairs and cultural experience classes, helping students quickly improve language skills and deepen understanding of Japanese society.

 

This visit strengthened faculty and student interactions and laid a foundation for expanding collaboration and more university-level student exchanges, reflecting both universities’ commitment to international cooperation.